Monday, August 16, 2010

Traveling Woman, and how!

This post brought to you by the power of sheer determination. Since we last spoke I have put the finishing touches on two small yet unbelievably demanding manuscripts, sorted through 40+ years worth of Consumer Reports magazines and then threw them in a dumpster, packed up my family home, moved my mom from the comfortable environs of Minneapolis *sniff* to the unfamiliar wilds of Central PA. (where, just to review, they serve French fries on salads, address you if you're more than one as yinz, eat large quantities of scrapple as if it's an accepted social practice and ask you if your car needs fixed. Somewhat of a hard sell at times, I know, but the place does have its charms). Whew!

Somehow in this maelstrom of activity I was able to knit---wait for it--one thing! Yes, I have a project to show you...

Mods: I knit the middle size for the stockinette portion and then did 3 lace repeats. This made for a nice, medium size wrap.

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This pattern was a true joy to work on. First and foremost I love that the pattern is flexible enough to allow you to size as you see fit--I played it safe and shot my arrow straight down the middle and did three repeats. Bull's eye! The shawl was not too big, not too small (because GOD how I hate a too small shawl). The lace pattern and border are also intuitive as all get out and completely easy to follow. Lastly I am loving this pattern because I made it for one of my oldest friends on the books. Elizabeth and I shared a cradle together! We had every holiday together from the 70s to the 00s! Our parents were 60s people together and sometime in the 70s we almost all moved in together commune-style (yeah, SO relieved that one never happened because, hello, how do you explain that particular freak flag at your Episcopal day school?)! And we have remained good friends, so it was a joy to be able to attend her wedding on our last day ever in Mpls *sniff* and welcome her husband into the fold.

I gave this shawl to her at the reception and there was just enough of a nip in the air to make it appropriate. The shimmery light blue of the STR sort of screams 'summer special occasion', if that is possible. All told, this pattern was a breeze to make and a joy to give away.

Thank you so much for the deluge of nice comments and sweet messages you have been leaving me over the summer--I have read each one with gratitude and delight. We sort of have a special thing going on here, this whole fiber community thing, right? Knitters FTW!

I have a link to your page on my blog and for a while you sat there at the bottom of the list of my "blogs I read" and everyday, I hoped you would come back and post. So glad that you have. What a lovely shawl, and a very lucky recipient!

I am just back from vacation and catching up on my blog reading. I am so sorry to hear about your Dad and hope all goes well with the transition for your Mom. The shawl you knit for your friend is lovely. Being petite, i prefer the small shawls.

So nice to see a post from you! You've been on my mind a lot. Moving your mom has to have been traumatic for all of you. I've tried with my 88 year old widowed father for many years (he's been on his own since my mom died 22 years ago), but he won't hear of it. It's tough. The shawl is typical of the beautiful garments you keep turning out. What a wonderful gift! Be well, and hopefully I'll see you at Rhinebeck again.

hi you!sure hope your mom is doing well in her new environment! (gotta love the 'burgh)i also really love that you made your friend the shall for a special day! cheers to your peeps and their new lives!

I'm so glad that you're back. It looks like an appropriate knit to get back in the groove. Something for a dear friend and an appropriate name for all the traveling you've been doing. Hope you are healing.

Welcome back. It is heartbreking to loose your father as it is just a little less t move from a house that was your home for so many years, as your mum had to do after loosing her husband. There is a song with the title : It takes time to learn to say goodbye. It is about losing a wife, but it goes for you and your mother and yes, even for leaving a loved home. Do not hurry, if you do it will catch up with you and feel much worse then it does now. Don't ask how I know. Just wish you and your mother to get used to your new lives. And hey, it takes only two seconds to throw the french fries next to the salad/ take the different manners with a laugh and cook from time to time like your mum is used to. How you resembled your father facewise, don't you think that is a bonus?

I'm so, so glad you posted! I've been checking your blog every couple of days, hoping you'd be back. Life is a constant series of transitions, isn't it? Congratulations on weathering the latest transition in your life.